I have chosen the issue of self-harm because I want to know more about the clients that suffer from it. People who suffer from mental health are a big issue for society and they need to be respected and treated like everyone else is. Self-harm is not something people do because they want to, but instead Self-harm is a subject I don't feel we will be covering in school in the near future and I wanted to research it as a way to learn more about this disease. The second reason I have for researching this subject is that I usually choose subjects I have been, or might be faced with in my personal life. Two weeks ago my brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and while he is not currently a self-harmer there is a chance he could become one. In my desires a as helper as well as in my goals I want to work with clients who might be seen as harder to work with, or who maybe aren't a social workers first choice. I don't feel like anyone is ever to far gone or a lost case, and those are the clients I am drawn to. The people who suffer from mental illness, addictions, homelessness, eating disorders, and self-harm are the people I think I can be the most help to because of my compassion, empathy, and drive to help.

Self-harm is defined as intentional injuring of body tissue without the desire of suicide. The most commonly seen forms of self-harm is skin cutting but self-harm can also take the forms of burning,...

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... Self-harm does not discriminate against any gender, race educational background, age, sexual orientation, social economic status or religion. It affects a multitude of people around the world. Self-harm, or self- injury is the act of intentionally injuring one’s own body that typically leaves behind marks or can even do damage to body tissues. It is used as a coping mechanism most of the time. Self- injury can include cutting, burning (”branding”), picking at skin, picking at scabs, re-opening wounds, hair pulling (trichotillomania), head banging, hitting oneself (can involve the use of objects but not always), bone breaking, biting oneself, scratching or even refusal to take prescription medication. Self- harm is known as many different terms such as self- mutilation, self- inflicted violence, self- injury, self- destructive behavior, self- abuse, and parasuicidal behavior. People who self- harm usually feel that self- injury is a way of temporarily relieving intense feelings, pressure and/ or anxiety. They may use self- harm to help them feel “alive”, to mask their emotional pain with physical pain, to feel in control of the pain unlike the pain that they may have experienced through physical, sexual or emotional abuse...

...Why do people selfharm, and what effect does it have on them?
Elaina Samelo
Booker T. Washington
Mrs. Looney, 3rd Block
Abstract
Many people think that the thing called “selfharm” or “self injury” is scary and should be considered a problem, but they do not know the whole of it. They have only seen self injury from the outside looking in, but have never experienced it themselves. This is what makesselfharm seem like something to be scorned, and something to be feared. It appears to be evident only in teenage girls who want attention, but it is so much more. Selfharm can be a means of expression, or a silent call for help; a coping method, and an escape. People who intentionally hurt themselves are not people to be ignored and ridiculed; they are people who just need help. The action affects the person, their loved ones, their mental health, and their personal relationships. With the help of Dr. Tara Deliberto, Dr. Helen Bergen, and many other specialists, people can better understand what self injury is and what can be done about it. So many people have things to say on this topic, but the question still remains: Why do people self injure, and what effect does it have on them?
Why do people selfharm, and what effect does it have on them?
The first step to finding...

...
What is SelfHarm?
Selfharm is a severe impulse control disorder and is characterized by any intentional harm to one’s own body. Not all self injuriers selfharm to get attention from others but rather use selfharm as a way to cope with mental and emotional issues. Selfharm comes in several forms with cutting being the most common. Selfharm is a very serious issue that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Statistics
Selfharm statistics show that this disturbing phenomenon is a real and present danger to vulnerable people worldwide.
Each year, 1 in 5 females and 1 in 7 males engage in self injury
90 percent of people who engage in selfharm begin during their teen or pre-adolescent years
Nearly 50 percent of those who engage in self injury activities have been sexually abused
Females comprise 60 percent of those who engage in self injurious behavior
About 50 percent of those who engage in self injury begin around age 14 and carry on into their 20s
Approximately two million cases of selfharm are reported annually in the U.S.
Forms of SelfHarms
One of the most common forms of self...

...Research Criteria
1. Define Topic:
Self-harming is deliberate injury inflicted by a person upon their own body. However this action is without the intent to commit suicide. So in simpler words it is deliberate but non-suicidal injury of one’s body.
Behaviour that is usually considered as Self-Harm which are often seen and treated in Emergency wards can include:
- Cutting
- Burning
- Hitting
- Biting
- Scratching
-Self-poisoning
- Overdosing on prescription and non-prescription medicines
There are also “socially accepted”, more unconscious, forms of Self-Harm. These can include:
- Excessive alcohol and drug use
- Tattooing
- Ear and body piercing
- Getting into pub brawls
- Going from one abusive, violent relationship to another
Ways of being able to tell if a person is self-harming are:
- Unexplained cuts and bruises on the body.
- Wearing long sleeves and pants, even in warm weather.
- Secrecy, such as keeping a specific drawer locked or hiding specific items.
- A breakdown in typical communication.
- Mood changes or mood swings.
- Changes in eating patterns.
- Changes in sleeping patterns.
- Changes in socialising patterns.
- Evidence of drug or medical paraphernalia.
- Evidence of carrying unnecessary sharp objects, matches or lighters.
- Poor performance or results at school or work.
- Loss of interest in favourite...

...
ENG. 112 03
7 November 2013
Self- Harm and Suicide in Teens
Do you know that one in twelve teenagers self-harm and ten out of a hundred thousand commit suicide? According to psychologists at Mayo Clinic self-harm is the act of deliberately harming your own body, such as cutting or burning yourself. Typically not meant as a suicide attempt, self- harm is an unhealthy way to cope with emotional pain, intense anger and frustration (mayo). Psychologists at Mayo Clinic define suicide as taking your own life, in a tragic reaction to stressful life situations (mayo). Throughout this paper I will refer to self-harm as SIV also known as self- inflicted violence. Suicide and SIV have become more known ways that teens cope with their feelings and the daily stresses they have. I believe that people should become more aware of teen suicide and SIV because of the way it affects the lives of teens every day. If there was more of an understanding of the causes of teen suicide and self-inflicted violence then these things would not occur as often. Self-harm, or SIV, is one of the many ways that teens cope with their feelings.
There are many causes of SIV. Self-harm normally is the inability to cope with psychological pain related to problems of...

...ignorant, selfharm becomes more and more common, but at what cost? If educators and medical personnel were to be more educated on selfharm and how to deal with it, teens and young adults would be more comfortable asking for help. Getttig rid of the stereotypes that selfharm is only for attention allows a deeper understanding on why someone would do such a thing, so they could get the help that is so desperately needed.
There are many names and definitions for selfharm. The most common are SelfHarm or Deliberate SelfHarm. Self Mutilation is used by some psychologists and therapists, but is an upsetting "title" for those who this applys too. Self harmers take offense to the word ‘mutilation’ because what they do is not for the purpose of changing the appearance of their bodies. Self Injury is another commonly used title. One way that teenagers or young adults recognize selfharm is by giving a name to the actual act of harming, such as cutting or burning. These names are self explanatory.
Selfharm can be a result of any number of mental disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, and multiple personality dissorder. It can also be used as a way to cope with many problems such as death,...

...Introduction
Deliberate self-harm is a term that covers a wide range of behaviours some of which are directly related to suicide and some are not. This is a relatively common behaviour that is little understood. This essay provides an overview of the nature and extent of those most at risk of self-harm, including causes and risk factors. Examining some of the stereotyping that surrounds self -harm, and looking at ways in which self-harm can be prevented.
A useful definition of self-harm is from Professor Keith Hawton (Hawton et al., 2006. p29). An act with a non-fatal outcome in which an individual deliberately did one or more of the following;
• Initiated behaviour (e.g. self-cutting, jumping from a height), which they intended to cause selfharm to one’s self.
• Ingested a substance in excess of the prescribed or generally recognised dose
• Ingested a recreational or illicit drug that was an act that the person regarded as selfharm
• Ingested a non-ingestible substance or object
Two elements are crucial; there is acute damage to the self; and damage is intentional.
The term self-harm is used to describe a wide range of things that people do to themselves in a deliberate and...

...Units. (www.mind.org.uk, 2010) Of these Individuals, 75% are female. (www.rcpsych.ac.uk 2010) Symptoms of borderline personality disorder are characterised by self injurious and high levels of risk taking behaviour. These include suicide attempts, self-harm, overdosing, alcohol problems and illicit drug use, eating disorders, emotional disturbances, problems with relationships, criminal and other violent behaviour, symptoms of clinical depression and anxiety. Virtually all individuals presenting with these symptoms report a history of being physically or sexually abused, unhappy, insecure, chaotic childhood, overwhelming loss and grief with a fear of abandonment. (www.yjb.gov.uk/publications, 2010)
Personality Disorder is defined as:
A disorder characterised by the chronic use of mechanisms of coping in an inappropriate, stereotyped, and maladaptive manner. Personality disorders are enduring and persistent styles of behaviour and thought, not atypical episodes. (www.emedicinehealth.com, 2010)
In this paper the author will be referred to as part of the nursing team. The author as identified one particular service user as someone to undertake this case study upon. The author will use various philosophical approaches to explain and understand ethical dilemmas in the care of this service user.
For the purpose of this paper the service user will be referred to as Jenny. The author has changed any...